Abstract: A system and method for dividing the flow of one or more process fluids in a predetermined flow ratio is provided herein. In one embodiment, a system for dividing flow of one or more process fluids in a predetermined flow ratio includes a process chamber having a plurality of inlets for delivering one or more process fluids into the process chamber; a plurality of modulating valves coupled to the plurality of inlets, wherein each inlet of the plurality of inlets is coupled to at least one modulating valve; and a controller coupled to the plurality of modulating valves, the controller configured to control the operation of the plurality of modulating valves to divide the flow of one or more process fluids in the predetermined flow ratio.

Abstract: A plasma reactor for processing a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer has a housing defining a process chamber, a workpiece support configured to support a workpiece within the chamber during processing and comprising a plasma bias power electrode. The reactor further includes plural gas sources containing different gas species, plural process gas inlets and an array of valves capable of coupling any of said plural gas sources to any of said plural process gas inlets. The reactor also includes a controller governing said array of valves and is programmed to change the flow rates of gases through said inlets over time. A ceiling plasma source power electrode of the reactor has plural gas injection zones coupled to the respective process gas inlets. In a preferred embodiment, the plural gas sources comprise supplies containing, respectively, fluorocarbon or fluorohydrocarbon species with respectively different ratios of carbon and fluorine chemistries.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering gases to a semiconductor processing system are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for delivering gases to a semiconductor processing system includes a plurality of gas input and output lines having inlet and outlet ports. Connecting lines couple respective pairs of the gas input and gas output lines. Connecting valves are arranged to control flow through the respective connecting lines. Mass gas flow controllers are arranged to control flow into respective inlet ports. In another embodiment, a method includes providing a manifold having at least a plurality of inlet that may be selectively coupled to at least one of a plurality of outlets, flowing one or more gases through the manifold to a vacuum environment by-passing the processing chamber prior to processing or to a calibration circuit, and flowing the one or more gases into the processing chamber during substrate processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering gases to a semiconductor processing system are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for delivering gases to a semiconductor processing system includes a plurality of gas input and output lines having inlet and outlet ports. Connecting lines couple respective pairs of the gas input and gas output lines. Connecting valves are arranged to control flow through the respective connecting lines. Mass gas flow controllers are arranged to control flow into respective inlet ports. In another embodiment, a method includes providing a manifold having at least a plurality of inlet that may be selectively coupled to at least one of a plurality of outlets, flowing one or more gases through the manifold to a vacuum environment by-passing the processing chamber prior to processing or to a calibration circuit, and flowing the one or more gases into the processing chamber during substrate processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering gases to a semiconductor processing system are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for delivering gases to a semiconductor processing system includes a plurality of gas input and output lines having inlet and outlet ports. Connecting lines couple respective pairs of the gas input and gas output lines. Connecting valves are arranged to control flow through the respective connecting lines. Mass gas flow controllers are arranged to control flow into respective inlet ports. In another embodiment, a method includes providing a manifold having at least a plurality of inlet that may be selectively coupled to at least one of a plurality of outlets, flowing one or more gases through the manifold to a vacuum environment by-passing the processing chamber prior to processing or to a calibration circuit, and flowing the one or more gases into the processing chamber during substrate processing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a gas distribution system which distributes the gas more uniformly into a process chamber. In one embodiment, a gas distribution system comprises a gas ring including an outer surface and an inner surface, and a gas inlet disposed at the outer surface of the gas ring. The gas inlet is fluidicly coupled with a first channel which is disposed between the outer surface and the inner surface of the gas ring. A plurality of gas outlets are distributed over the inner surface of the gas ring, and are fluidicly coupled with a second channel which is disposed between the outer surface and the inner surface of the gas ring. A plurality of orifices are fluidicly coupled between the first channel and the second channel.

Abstract: A plasma etch process for etching high aspect ratio openings in a dielectric film on a workpiece is carried out in a reactor having a ceiling electrode overlying the workpiece and an electrostatic chuck supporting the workpiece. The process includes injecting a first polymerizing etch process gas through a radially inward one of plural concentric gas injection zones in the ceiling electrode and injecting a second polymerizing etch process gas through a radially outward one of the plural concentric gas injection zones in the ceiling electrode, the compositions of the first and second process gases having first and second carbon-to-fluorine ratios that differ from one another.

Abstract: A plasma etch process etches high aspect ratio openings in a dielectric film on a workpiece in a reactor having a ceiling electrode overlying the workpiece and an electrostatic chuck supporting the workpiece. The process includes injecting a polymerizing etch process gas through an annular zone of gas injection orifices in the ceiling electrode, and evacuating gas from the reactor through a pumping annulus surrounding an edge of the workpiece. The high aspect ratio openings are etched in the dielectric film with etch species derived from the etch process gas while depositing a polymer derived from the etch process gas onto the workpiece, by generating a plasma in the reactor by applying VHF source power and/or HF and/or LF bias power to the electrodes at the ceiling and/or the electrostatic chuck.

Abstract: A plasma etch process includes injecting process gases with different compositions of chemical species through different radial gas injection zones of an overhead electrode to establish a desired distribution of chemical species among the plural gas injection zones.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering gases to a semiconductor processing system are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for delivering gases to a semiconductor processing system includes a plurality of gas input and output lines having inlet and outlet ports. Connecting lines couple respective pairs of the gas input and gas output lines. Connecting valves are arranged to control flow through the respective connecting lines. Mass gas flow controllers are arranged to control flow into respective inlet ports. In another embodiment, a method includes providing a manifold having at least a plurality of inlet that may be selectively coupled to at least one of a plurality of outlets, flowing one or more gases through the manifold to a vacuum environment by-passing the processing chamber prior to processing or to a calibration circuit, and flowing the one or more gases into the processing chamber during substrate processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering gases to a semiconductor processing system are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for delivering gases to a semiconductor processing system includes a plurality of gas input and output lines having inlet and outlet ports. Connecting lines couple respective pairs of the gas input and gas output lines. Connecting valves are arranged to control flow through the respective connecting lines. Mass gas flow controllers are arranged to control flow into respective inlet ports. In another embodiment, a method includes providing a manifold having at least a plurality of inlet that may be selectively coupled to at least one of a plurality of outlets, flowing one or more gases through the manifold to a vacuum environment by-passing the processing chamber prior to processing or to a calibration circuit, and flowing the one or more gases into the processing chamber during substrate processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering gases to a semiconductor processing system are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for delivering gases to a semiconductor processing system includes a plurality of gas input and output lines having inlet and outlet ports. Connecting lines couple respective pairs of the gas input and gas output lines. Connecting valves are arranged to control flow through the respective connecting lines. Mass gas flow controllers are arranged to control flow into respective inlet ports. In another embodiment, a method includes providing a manifold having at least a plurality of inlet that may be selectively coupled to at least one of a plurality of outlets, flowing one or more gases through the manifold to a vacuum environment by-passing the processing chamber prior to processing or to a calibration circuit, and flowing the one or more gases into the processing chamber during substrate processing.

Abstract: A system and method for dividing the flow of one or more process fluids in a predetermined flow ratio is provided herein. In one embodiment, a system for dividing flow of one or more process fluids in a predetermined flow ratio includes a process chamber having a plurality of inlets for delivering one or more process fluids into the process chamber; a plurality of modulating valves coupled to the plurality of inlets, wherein each inlet of the plurality of inlets is coupled to at least one modulating valve; and a controller coupled to the plurality of modulating valves, the controller configured to control the operation of the plurality of modulating valves to divide the flow of one or more process fluids in the predetermined flow ratio.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a gas distribution system which distributes the gas more uniformly into a process chamber. In one embodiment, a gas distribution system comprises a gas ring including an outer surface and an inner surface, and a gas inlet disposed at the outer surface of the gas ring. The gas inlet is fluidicly coupled with a first channel which is disposed between the outer surface and the inner surface of the gas ring. A plurality of gas outlets are distributed over the inner surface of the gas ring, and are fluidicly coupled with a second channel which is disposed between the outer surface and the inner surface of the gas ring. A plurality of orifices are fluidicly coupled between the first channel and the second channel.

Abstract: A plasma etch process etches high aspect ratio openings in a dielectric film on a workpiece in a reactor having a ceiling electrode overlying the workpiece and an electrostatic chuck supporting the workpiece. The process includes injecting a polymerizing etch process gas through an annular zone of gas injection orifices in the ceiling electrode, and evacuating gas from the reactor through a pumping annulus surrounding an edge of the workpiece. The high aspect ratio openings are etched in the dielectric film with etch species derived from the etch process gas while depositing a polymer derived from the etch process gas onto the workpiece, by generating a plasma in the reactor by applying VHF source power and/or HF and/or LF bias power to the electrodes at the ceiling and/or the electrostatic chuck.

Abstract: A plasma reactor for processing a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer has a housing defining a process chamber, a workpiece support configured to support a workpiece within the chamber during processing and comprising a plasma bias power electrode. The reactor further includes plural gas sources containing different gas species, plural process gas inlets and an array of valves capable of coupling any of said plural gas sources to any of said plural process gas inlets. The reactor also includes a controller governing said array of valves and is programmed to change the flow rates of gases through said inlets over time. A ceiling plasma source power electrode of the reactor has plural gas injection zones coupled to the respective process gas inlets. In a preferred embodiment, the plural gas sources comprise supplies containing, respectively, fluorocarbon or fluorohydrocarbon species with respectively different ratios of carbon and fluorine chemistries.

Abstract: A plasma etch process for etching high aspect ratio openings in a dielectric film on a workpiece is carried out in a reactor having a ceiling electrode overlying the workpiece and an electrostatic chuck supporting the workpiece. The process includes injecting a polymerizing etch process gas through at least one of plural concentric gas injection zones of the ceiling electrode and injecting an inert diluent gas through at least a selected one of the plural gas injection zones of the ceiling electrode and apportioning respective flow rates of the diluent gas through respective ones of the gas injection zones in accordance with the distribution among corresponding concentric zones of the workpiece of etch profile tapering.

Abstract: A plasma etch process for etching high aspect ratio openings in a dielectric film on a workpiece is carried out in a reactor having a ceiling electrode overlying the workpiece and an electrostatic chuck supporting the workpiece. The process includes injecting a first polymerizing etch process gas through a radially inward one of plural concentric gas injection zones in the ceiling electrode and injecting a second polymerizing etch process gas through a radially outward one of the plural concentric gas injection zones in the ceiling electrode, the compositions of the first and second process gases having first and second carbon-to-fluorine ratios that differ from one another.

Abstract: A plasma etch process for etching a workpiece is carried out in a plasma reactor having a ceiling electrode overlying the process region with plural concentric gas injection zones. The process includes injecting process gases with different compositions of chemical species through different ones of the gas injection zones to establish a distribution of chemical species among the plural gas injection zones. The process gases include fluorine-rich polymerizing etch gases that promote a high etch rate, carbon-rich polymerizing etch gases that promote a high polymer deposition rate, polymer management gases (e.g., oxygen or nitrogen) that retard polymer deposition rate and an inert diluent gas that reduces etch profile tapering.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for depositing a dielectric film on a substrate having a plurality of gaps formed between adjacent raised surfaces disposed in a high density plasma substrate processing chamber substrate. In one embodiment the method comprises flowing a process gas comprising a germanium source, a silicon source and an oxidizing agent into the substrate processing chamber; forming a high density plasma that has simultaneous deposition and sputtering components from the process gas to deposit a dielectric film comprising silicon, germanium and oxygen; and during the step of forming a high density plasma, maintaining a pressure within the substrate processing chamber of less than 100 mTorr while allowing the dielectric film to be heated above its glass transition temperature.